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Irish Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Parade atrocity hit hard in Ireland thanks to our unique links to Liverpool
News of the atrocity which befell the city of Liverpool on Monday quickly reverberated around the globe. Shortly after 6 pm, a 53-year-old man drove into multiple fans who were attending the Reds' bus parade. What started as a truly joyous occasion quickly turned into utter devastation. Nearly 80 people were injured, some of whom remain in a serious condition in hospital. Here, in Ireland, our strong ties with Liverpool meant it hit hard. The decades-long deep-rooted connections between Ireland and the English port city meant the pain and devastation were felt even more deeply here. Figures show there are nearly 500,000 Irish Liverpool fans and it's estimated around 75 per cent of Liverpudlians have Irish ancestry. The link is deeper, though - from music to accents to our vernacular and emigration, there's a lot that connects Ireland with Liverpool. Here, we take a deeper look at the unique Liverpool-Irish links. Everybody knows the Beatles hail from Liverpool. But some might be surprised to learn that the four members of what is arguably the most famous band in the world had Irish roots. John Lennon's grandfather James was born in Down while his great-grandmother, Elizabeth Gildea, hailed from Omagh in Tyrone. Paul McCartney's clan had connections with Monaghan. His maternal grandfather, named Owen Mohan, came from Tullynamallow. Ringo Starr is considered the most English member of the band, but his roots go back to Mayo. George Harrison's family, meanwhile, originally hailed from Wexford as it emerged that they were landowners before being stripped of their land by Oliver Cromwell during the plantations. All the families eventually found their way to Liverpool. During the Beatles' infamous visit to the Irish capital in 1963, Lennon declared: 'We're all Irish!' A more recent musical connection would be Nathan Carter. The 35-year-old Wagon Wheel singer was born in Liverpool to Northern Irish parents. He moved across at 18 and is now based in Fermanagh. Liverpool was also featured in songs by The Dubliners, including The Leavin' of Liverpool and Liverpool Lou. Trade Unionist leader James Larkin, who, along with James Connolly and William O'Brien, founded the Labour Party, was born in Toxteth in Liverpool in January 1874 to Irish emigrants. Big Jim gained national and international acclaim for his part in organising the 1913 strike that sparked the Dublin lockout. The lock-out was an industrial dispute that began over pay and conditions and the right to unionise. It involved around 20,000 workers and 300 employers and lasted from August 1913 to 18 January 1914. It is widely considered the most severe and significant industrial dispute in Irish history. Another well-known Irish figure with connections to Liverpool was William Butler Yeats. A New York Times article recalls how, as a youngster, he would frequently travel across the Irish Sea to Liverpool on board his grandad's boat. Many Liverpudlians have Irish heritage. Most of this can be traced back to the famine, but some stretches even further back. The Irish Famine began in 1845, at which point around 50,000 Irish settlers were already living in Liverpool. The numbers grew exponentially in the subsequent years as conditions in Ireland continued to deteriorate. A staggering 120,000 Irish arrived in Liverpool during the first three months of 1847. Eight months later, around 300,000 had landed. Most had plans to continue on their journey to the USA, but a large portion, who were considered the poorest and weakest, remained in Liverpool. It's been estimated that over the course of 63 years, between 1850 and 1913, more than 4.5 million Irish men and women left Ireland for Liverpool. The famine had a lasting impact on the demographics of Liverpool. It is believed that an estimated 75 per cent of the city's residents have some Irish ancestry. The company that built the Titanic, known as the White Star Line, had its headquarters on James Street in Liverpool. The infamous ship was constructed in Belfast and set sail from Southampton to the US, stopping in Cork. She was registered in Liverpool and, as a result, bore the city's name on her stern. The ship left for New York on April 10, 1912. In total, 2,208 people were onboard when the ship struck an iceberg. More than 1,500 lost their lives. Many of those onboard the ship, including passengers and staff, had ties to Liverpool. The Scouse accent and particular words and phrases are heavily influenced by the Irish who emigrated there. One example of this is the 'Ta-ra' which is regularly used by Liverpudlians. It is a shortened version of 'take care' and is often used as a way to say goodbye. The exact origins of the phrase are disputed, but one theory is that it emerged from the Irish phrase 'tabhair aire' which means take care. Another example of this is calling someone 'a wool' when they are from outside of Liverpool. It is thought to come from Irish slang when referring to people from the countryside, 'a woolyback'. Other common slang phrases which are heard in both Ireland and Liverpool include words and phrases like 'grand', 'melter', 'gaff', 'baltic' and 'swelterin'' and 'craic'. The roots of the late Cilla Black go back to Ireland. The British singer's great-grandparents were all Irish while her maternal grandfather was born to Irish emigrants in Wales. Her Irishness also shaped her upbringing. She was raised as a Roman Catholic and lived in the Irish-Catholic stronghold of Scotland Road in Liverpool. TV presenter Paul O'Grady, who passed away in 2023, also had strong Irish roots. During his life, he often said he'd love to move to Ireland - particularly to Roscommon. Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney also has links to Ireland and it's been reported he even considered playing for the Boys in Green.
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'Family man' charged over Liverpool crash horror pictured for first time
This is the man accused of ramming his car into crowds at the Liverpool victory parade, injuring almost 80 people. Paul Doyle, 53, of West Derby, Liverpool, is accused of dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent to cause injury, and attempting to cause GBH with intent when he ploughed into football fans celebrating Liverpool FC's title win. The dad of three was finally identified today, as detectives were given more time to quiz him over the incident on Monday night. Police were stationed outside his family home this afternoon, where Doyle lives with his wife and their three sons. Loved-up pictures on social media show the family enjoying various holidays including Disneyland Florida, Dubai and at the beach. The pictures are a far cry from the dramatic scenes that unfolded on Water Street, where bloodied football fans and injured children had to be carried from the scene and rushed to hospital. Police said seven people were still recovering in hospital today after horrific clips showed a Ford Galaxy people carrier mowing down crowds just after the parade finished around 6pm. It remains unclear exactly what Doyle does for work, with a number of dissolved retail companies listed under his name on Companies House. His LinkedIn page says he is a former Royal Marine Commando and now works in IT. In an update posted on Wednesday afternoon, police said the total number injured was now at 79, but more people had been discharged from hospital. Today it was revealed the casualties' ages range between 9 and 78 years old. Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: 'I'm pleased to say that the number of people in hospital is reducing as they continue to recover from the awful incident. We continue to support those still receiving treatment and as part of our ongoing enquiries we are identifying more people who were injured. 'I want to reassure the public of Merseyside that detectives are making significant progress as we seek to establish the full circumstances that led to what happened." Hundreds of thousands of Liverpudlians had lined the streets on Monday to celebrate Arne Slot's team winning a record-tying 20th top flight title. As the open-top bus parade was nearing an end, witnesses described seeing a car enter a cordoned-off street just off the parade route and driving into fans, stopping briefly in the road before starting again. Police confirmed that same evening they had arrested a 53-year-old British man in connection with the incident. Among those injured was new dad Daniel Eveson, who thought his little family were 'going to die' when his son's buggy was dragged 15ft in the crash carnage. The traumatised dad, 36, from Telford, Shrops, added it was nothing short of a 'miracle' that his family survived and has now dubbed his five month old baby boy, 'Super Ted,' after he escaped completely unscathed. 'He's our miracle. He's 'Super Ted'. I keep crying every time I hold him. I can't believe we've still got him, he didn't even break a finger' Daniel told The Mirror. He told how his fiancee Sheree Aldridge, 36 is also 'getting better' after the car ran over her leg, leaving her with muscle and tissue damage and lacerations. He said: 'I basically held the pram but the pram got took out of my hands and my hands went on the bonnet to try and stop the car. Then Sheree went up on the bonnet and then dropped off and then went under it. "I looked to my side to see her and she just wasn't there,' he said, breaking down in tears and adding: 'Oh my God it was just horrible. I just want justice.'
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Couple caught in Liverpool parade horror made key move which 'saved their lives'
Gary and Jane Barnes believe they escaped with their lives on Monday after making a crucial decision while enjoying the Liverpool FC victory parade that took them out of harm's way A couple caught in the chaos of the Liverpool FC parade incident have told how they made a key move that they believed "saved their lives". Gary and Jane Barnes were among the thousands of people lining the streets on Monday as Liverpudlians celebrated the triumphant return of the city's newly crowned champions. The 70 and 72-year-old were caught in the chaos that evening after, at around 6pm, a car ploughed into crowds on Water Street, striking 47 people, with 27 people - including four children - sent to hospital. But crucially, the couple escaped the moment of the collision thanks to one key spur-of-the-moment decision. Speaking to the PA news agency, Gary said he and his wife decided to use the toilet in a nearby Premier Inn moments before the car struck the crowd on Monday evening. When they re-emerged from the bargain hotel, all hell had broken loose, and Gary believes their decision may have saved their lives. He said: "We went off to go to the toilet fortunately and we came back and it just happened. We didn't see it happening. We didn't know what was happening. "But going inside that toilet could have saved our lives. That's genuinely how we feel after seeing all the horror." Jane added: "A man came over and said that a car had just run over somebody and it was behind us. The police were here." Emergency services arrived moments after the smash was reported to police, with paramedics treating people at the scene and police arresting the driver of the car. Videos capturing the chaos show Liverpudlians crowding around the vehicle, a black Ford Galaxy, in a bid to prevent further casualties after four people were dragged underneath. No one has died, with Merseyside Police adding during a conference on Tuesday that the 11 people who remain in hospital for treatment are in a stable condition and appear to be steadily recovering. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims added that a 53-year-old man from Liverpool's West Derby area has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and dangerous driving while unfit through drugs. Gary and Jane have heaped praise on emergency services, saying they were "fantastic" and said two police officers in an unmarked car "ran like hell" to the scene. Gary said: "The police were fantastic. Two guys got out of an unmarked police car and they ran like hell. They were parked next to us and dived out of the car and ran to the scene." Jane added: "The ambulances were coming. Luckily, all the police were there because there were so many after the parade so they were on it straight away." The couple were initially left in shock but now it's "hit her more." She said: "It's hit me more this morning, because I'm thinking about it. There's kids involved which is terrible."
1News
28-05-2025
- 1News
Driver arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after Liverpool parade ramming
A 53-year-old British man who injured 65 people when his car rammed into a crowd of Liverpool football fans celebrating their team's Premier League championship was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said today. The driver was also being held on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving on drugs, Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said. The incident yesterday turned a jubilant parade into a tragedy that sent 50 people to hospitals for treatment of their injuries. Eleven remained hospitalised today in stable condition. The wounded included four children, one of whom had been trapped beneath the vehicle with three adults. Driver dodged road block ADVERTISEMENT Scooters lie on the site where a 53-year-old British man plowed a minivan into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans who were celebrating the city's Premier League championship. (Source: Associated Press) Police had closed off much of the area to traffic, but the driver is believed to have manoeuvered around a road block by following an ambulance that was rushing to treat a person suspected of having a heart attack, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said. Merseyside Police said they were not treating the incident as terrorism and were not looking for other suspects. The force has not identified the arrested driver. Police in Britain usually do not name suspects until they are charged. Detectives were still working to piece together why the minivan ploughed into crowds packing a narrow street just after the players of Liverpool Football Club had celebrated its championship with an open-topped bus parade. The incident cast a shadow over a city that has suffered twin tragedies linked to the football team and led to widespread expressions of shock, sadness and support. 'It is truly devastating to see that what should have been a joyous celebration for many could end in such distressing circumstances," King Charles III said in a statement while on a visit to Canada. 'I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need." Crime scene scoured for evidence ADVERTISEMENT Police and emergency personnel deal with an incident on Water Street near the Liver Building in Liverpool after a car collided with pedestrians during the Premier League winners parade (Source: Associated Press) Water St, near the River Mersey in the heart of the city, was cordoned off by police tape, and a blue tent had been erected on the road strewn with the detritus of celebration, including bottles, cans and Liverpool flags. Teams of officers wearing white forensic suits scoured the damp streets for evidence and snapped photos of clothing and other items left behind as people fled the chaotic scene. Hundreds of thousands of Liverpudlians had crammed the streets of the port city in northwest England yesterday to celebrate the team winning England's Premier League this season for a record-tying 20th top-flight title. As the parade was wrapping up, a minivan turned down a cordoned-off street just off the parade route and ploughed into the sea of fans wrapped in their red Liverpool scarves, jerseys and other memorabilia. A video on social media showed the van strike a man, tossing him in the air, before veering into a larger crowd, where it plowed a path through the group and pushed bodies along the street before coming to a stop. 'It was extremely fast,' said Harry Rashid, who was with his wife and two young daughters as the minivan passed by them. 'Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.' Rashid said the crowd charged the halted vehicle and began smashing windows. ADVERTISEMENT 'But then he put his foot down again and just ploughed through the rest of them, he just kept going,' Rashid said. 'It was horrible. And you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people.' Suspect partly identified to stop rumour mill UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the scenes in Liverpool were "appalling". (Source: Reuters) Police quickly identified the suspect as a white local man to prevent misinformation from flooding social media, Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said. Rotheram said police acted appropriately to tamp down online speculation about the person responsible as false rumours spread rapidly online of there being another incident. 'Social media is a cesspit,' he said, referring to the conjecture and misinformation. 'It was designed to inflame. It was designed to divide. The message of hate doesn't go down well here.' Last summer, a teen in the nearby town of Southport killed three girls in a stabbing rampage at a dance class and wounded 10 others, including two adults. An incorrect name of the suspect was spread on social media and people said he was an asylum-seeker. In fact, he had been born in the UK. Rioting spread across England and Northern Ireland, targeting Muslims and refugees in hotels for asylum-seekers, lasting about a week. ADVERTISEMENT Liverpool football legacy tainted by tragedy Liverpool players celebrate with the trophy on an open-top bus during the Liverpool FC Premier League victory parade in Liverpool, England. (Source: Associated Press) Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the tragedy as he hailed the bravery of rescuers and said the country's thoughts were with the city and its people. 'Scenes of joy turned to utter horror and devastation," Starmer said today. 'Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool." The storied franchise has been associated with two of the biggest tragedies in professional soccer. Its fans were largely blamed for the 1985 disaster at Heysel stadium in Belgium when 39 people — mostly supporters of Italian team Juventus — died when Liverpool backers surged into the rival's stand. Four years later, a crush at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Driver arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after Liverpool soccer parade tragedy
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — A 53-year-old British man who injured 65 people when his car rammed into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans celebrating their team's Premier League championship was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said Tuesday. The driver was also being held on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving on drugs, Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said. The incident late Monday afternoon turned a jubilant parade into a tragedy that sent 50 people to hospitals for treatment of their injuries. Eleven remained hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition. The wounded included four children, one of whom had been trapped beneath the vehicle with three adults. Driver dodged road block Police had closed off much of the area to traffic, but the driver is believed to have maneuvered around a road block by following an ambulance that was rushing to treat a person suspected of having a heart attack, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said. Merseyside Police said they were not treating the incident as terrorism and were not looking for other suspects. The force has not identified the arrested driver. Police in Britain usually do not name suspects until they are charged. Detectives were still working to piece together why the minivan plowed into crowds packing a narrow street just after the players of Liverpool Football Club had celebrated its championship with an open-topped bus parade. The incident cast a shadow over a city that has suffered twin tragedies linked to the soccer team and led to widespread expressions of shock, sadness and support. 'It is truly devastating to see that what should have been a joyous celebration for many could end in such distressing circumstances," King Charles III said in a statement while on a visit to Canada. 'I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need." Crime scene scoured for evidence Water Street, near the River Mersey in the heart of the city, was cordoned off by police tape, and a blue tent had been erected on the road strewn with the detritus of celebration, including bottles, cans and Liverpool flags. Teams of officers wearing white forensic suits scoured the damp streets for evidence and snapped photos of clothing and other items left behind as people fled the chaotic scene. Hundreds of thousands of Liverpudlians had crammed the streets of the port city in northwest England on Monday to celebrate the team winning England's Premier League this season for a record-tying 20th top-flight title. As the parade was wrapping up, a minivan turned down a cordoned-off street just off the parade route and plowed into the sea of fans wrapped in their red Liverpool scarves, jerseys and other memorabilia. A video on social media showed the van strike a man, tossing him in the air, before veering into a larger crowd, where it plowed a path through the group and pushed bodies along the street before coming to a stop. 'It was extremely fast,' said Harry Rashid, who was with his wife and two young daughters as the minivan passed by them. 'Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.' Rashid said the crowd charged the halted vehicle and began smashing windows. 'But then he put his foot down again and just plowed through the rest of them, he just kept going,' Rashid said. 'It was horrible. And you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people.' Suspect partly identified to stop rumor mill Police quickly identified the suspect as a white local man to prevent misinformation from flooding social media, Liverpool City Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said. Rotheram said police acted appropriately to tamp down online speculation about the person responsible as false rumors spread rapidly online of there being another incident. 'Social media is a cesspit,' he said, referring to the conjecture and misinformation. 'It was designed to inflame. It was designed to divide. The message of hate doesn't go down well here.' Last summer, a teen in the nearby town of Southport killed three girls in a stabbing rampage at a dance class and wounded 10 others, including two adults. An incorrect name of the suspect was spread on social media and people said he was an asylum-seeker. In fact, he had been born in the U.K. Rioting spread across England and Northern Ireland, targeting Muslims and refugees in hotels for asylum-seekers, lasting about a week. Liverpool soccer legacy tainted by tragedy Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the tragedy as he hailed the bravery of rescuers and said the country's thoughts were with the city and its people. 'Scenes of joy turned to utter horror and devastation," Starmer said Tuesday. 'Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool." The storied franchise has been associated with two of the biggest tragedies in professional soccer. Its fans were largely blamed for the 1985 disaster at Heysel stadium in Belgium when 39 people — mostly supporters of Italian team Juventus — died when Liverpool backers surged into the rival's stand. Four years later, a crush at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans. ___ Melley reported from London. Associated Press writer Jill Lawless contributed to this report.
